Knox, Ashland County youngsters part of Mansfield Soap Box Derby

MANSFIELD – Nothing was going to keep the Robinson family from the North Central Ohio Soap Box Derby Saturday morning – especially not a few rain showers.

It’s a longstanding tradition for the Loudonville clan. Kayla Robinson raced as a child, and her children, Blake and Drew carry on the legacy.  

“I’m the best race mom because I raced, too,” Kayla said with a laugh. “I went to Akron (for the championship) twice and placed fifth when I raced. And my sister raced. So, we’ve been involved since 1992, and now my kids are racing.”

Drew, 10, loves the thrill of racing.

“I like getting in the car and going down the track,” he said.

He’s been racing for several years, and so has his 12-year-old brother Blake, who is now in the super stock division.  

“I hope to get first place,” said Blake, the runner-up two years ago.

But only the two winners from Saturday’s competition get to represent the North Central Ohio Soap Box Derby at the world championship FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron.

Those two champions were super stock division titlist Collette Decker and stock winner Maggie Restelli.

The annual North Central Ohio Soap Box Derby’s race has taken place since 1937 and been held on Main Street in downtown Mansfield since 1993. This year’s derby featured 34 contestants, an equal amount split between the stock and super stock divisions. It’s open to children age 7 to 17 in Richland, Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion and Morrow Counties. Drivers age 7 to 13 are in the stock division, with ages 9 to 17 in super stock.

“We’re just going to race between the rain drops,” said Brian Smith, derby director.

Carson Abbott of Shelby was worried about the weather early Saturday.

“When my dad texted my mom this morning and said, ‘It’s a downpour over here,’ I was like, ‘Oh boy, that probably means the rain’s not going to stop,’ but hopefully, it holds off,” Abbott said.  

In his four years at the Soap Box Derby, the 13-year-old has received an award for his car’s appearance and placed second, third and fifth.

“I really like to race because I like going down hills, of course, and I like Cedar Point, too, so I think that’s a plus,” Abbott said.

He hoped to place second or third, but not first at the derby. Once a contestant wins first place, they are not able return, the boy explained.

“If I win this year, I’ll miss like four years,” he said.

Another racer, Maggie Restelli of Lucas hoped to bring home a larger trophy than in previous years when she’s earned fourth and fifth place.

The 10-year-old grew up washing her brother, Antonio’s race cars before racing herself. He placed second his first year and first his second year at the derby.

“I had to figure out a way to occupy myself, so he let me clean his car,” Restelli said. “And he gave me this special sponge, and I would say it made it go faster.

“But it would never do anything.”

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